Author: thenevsbycycle

Great night & magic day 3 of riding from Hans Bay to Kumara = 50km

Great times in Hans Bay last night staying in the tiny big house.

It all started well
Then it was all downhill…… and that wasn’t on the bikes….!

No problem sleeping last night for everyone and a few loud snorers keeping the village of Hans Bay awake. Good hearty brekki before the pedals were turning.

Overcast in Hans Bay and fingers crossed the rain was going to stay away.
Lovely ride along the Arahura River to Milltown and up to Cowboys Paradise
A few spots of rain but stunning scenery
Then a cuppa and a chat with this Coast character at Trappers Rest.
Super fun riding, only one missed turn off by Alex and before we knew it we were in Kumara although Alex could easily have ended up in Haast.
So lucky not to get wet today and great digs at Theatre Hotel.

Day 2 – Hokitika to Hans Bay + side trip to Dorothy Falls = 38km

Great night out last night in Hoki, and awesome to have Donna and Scott joining us.

After brekki it was time to get the supplies for tonight.
A little more repacking of the over sized toilet bag and we were ready to hit the road. Mandy and Alex taking the easy option of getting their gear transferred and they have e-bikes….!!!
Another beautiful day as we depart Hokitika.
Regrouped after Alex missed the turn off. Her and her e-bike were in the zone. Then we were at Lake Kaniere and truly stunning.
Lunch stop at Lake Kaniere
Then onto Hans Bay and a lovely side ride to Dorothy Falls.

Lovely digs in Hans Bay. Another awesome day of riding.

Stunning West Coast

3rd time for The Nevs riding the West Coast Wilderness Trail and it gets better every time. This time we have friends joining us so double the fun with Andy and Mandy and soon to be triple the fun when Alex and Chris join us tonight and start riding with us tomorrow.

Departing Nelson – Saturday 1st May

Mandy looking a little excited
Arrived at Greymouth and realised Mandy needs a lesson in packing for bike touring, starting with the size of the toilet (sponge) bag…!
Start of the trail snap last night
Then off to the Ross pub. Got to love $12 jugs of Speights in glass jugs with the local characters.
Sun going down on Ross township
Ross Top 10 sunset
Fine dining at Ross Top 10

The boys cooking us up a good bike touring brekki this morning

Then loading up Betty and Nancy for Day 1 of riding.

Ross to Hokitika 36km

Ross beach and ready for action

Coffee at Treetops walkway then onwards
Hokitika turned on the weather for us.
Absolutely beautiful day and magic view from our digs tonight. Roll on tomorrow.

Family Fun Day

Well what a fun day that was with all the family.  Awesome 52km ride from Spooners Tunnel to Mapua meeting the non riders along the way.

Early start to get the bikes loaded out to the Spooners Tunnel.

Thanks Michael and Kiwi Journeys for a great trip out to the tunnel with the informative commentary.

Here goes start of the tunnel. Lights fully charged ready for the 1.3km

Blazed it downhill to Wai-iti domain

First stop Wakefield bakery where Mum and Dad the support crew were making sure there were enough pies for us.

On through the hops to the Grape Escape for lunch.

All the tribe for lunch, to refuel
Through the Waimea estuary on to Rabbit Island
Made it…….!!!
Karen chilling after her record bike ride day

Well that was a super fun day. Well done team……!

52km fun in the sun today

Enjoying our staycation on our 3 days off and this morning we got a shuttle from Nelson out to the Spooners tunnel. The longest disused rail tunnel in the southern hemisphere.

Despite having ridden it 4 times the claustrophobia kicked in and that didn’t help with the light on my bike not working! Thought I was going to come unstuck during the 1.35km but happy to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Betty and Nancy getting ready for the tunnel
Here goes……

Out the other side and wow what a huge improvement in the surface  of the trail since last time we did the ride.  Smashed the other side of the tunnel, blazed through the hop farms which are expanding by the day, onwards through Wakefield then time for a rest in Brightwater.

Loving riding through the hops and this section of the trail is stunning.
Rest stop in Brightwater

The strong northerly made for a tough day of riding but the Maccas ice cream reward was well worth it.

A few mechanical issues with Betty but all sorted after realising the derailleur was missing a bolt!!!! Handy Andy had a spare so all fixed.

Awesome day out and fantastic ride on our door step.

3 Trails in 1 day

First we had to tick off being tourists in Cromwell. So pretty and the historical part of the town is amazing.

Then yesterday it was time to hit the Central Otago trails.

Coffee stop in Clyde before getting the bikes
Huge thanks to the Bike It Now team. Your bikes and service was awesome.
Otago Rail Trail Clyde to Alexandra
Alexandra on a perfect spring day
Roxburgh Gorge Trail truly amazing

Amazing day of riding finished off with the River Trail from Alex back to Clyde.

Clyde – Alexandra – Roxburgh Gorge Trail – Alexandra – Clyde = 47km.

Put it on the To Do list. We will be back for more exploring.

Tiki Touring Fiordland

Doing our bit to support the local economy and being tourists yet again in our own backyard.

This was the first time we had both been down this way since the early 1980s so was like a new discovery and can now see why tourists come in droves to visit this beautiful part of NZ.

Te Anau picture perfect
Sneaky drinkie at the Ranch in Te Anau
Mirror Lakes
Mirror Lake walkway
Homer tunnel
Security at the Homer Tunnel
Milford Sound. 28 bus car parks and not a bus in site.
Absolutely awesome day exploring and so lucky with the weather

Winter Wonderland

Embracing winter in paradise.

Picture perfect Wanaka
A visit to Cardrona distillery for whisky tastings to warm up
0 Degrees top of Crown Range
Loving Arrowtown
The snow has arrived in Queenstown
Stunning view from our apartment this morning
Half way up Tiki Trail making our way to top of the Skyline.
Where’s Wally
Bit slippery in places
Made it and well worth it

South Island Roadie

This would have been week 3 riding out bikes through Asia but during these crazy times it wasn’t to be.

Instead we have hit the road exploring our back yard and having a blast. Even have the folks joining us so some good quality time. Some new territory for us visiting spots we haven’t visited before, loving exploring our backyard.

Day 1 Hokitika
Franz Josef
Not sure how these things work, first kiwi winter in 13 years!!!!
Wet in Franz but truly beautiful
Road tripping from Franz in torrential rain
So many 1 Lane bridges
Was like a drive through a rain forest with all the waterfalls
Then the rain cleared and the sun shining over Lake Wanaka
Lake Hawea
Lake Wanaka
Motel view
Hanging with Ma and Pa

The Nevs surviving lockdown

Wow what a week for everyone around the world.

The Nomadic Nevs being forced to stay home. Our flight to Sydney scheduled today of course a no go as we hunker down with the rest of NZ in our bubble.

Instead this is what our day looked like today.  A great ride with Betty and Nancy.

Deserted roads
Taped off playgrounds
Boarded up public toilets
No traffic
Betty and Nancy watching us do our workout

Supermarket Queues
New coffee machine working over time and well worth the investment purchased the day prior to lockdown.
Date night at home!

Can’t go out for our weekly Thai so at home it has to be!
Cheers everyone stay home, stay safe. Enjoy time in your bubble.

Tomorrow Andy is back to work as an essential service and we roll through another day during these crazy times. Thinking of you all wherever you are.